Building washroom for Earl Baker Park goes ahead…barely

Excavation has started in Earl Baker Park for the services for a splash pad and washroom. Council approved both contracts June 16, 2015. The washroom contract narrowly avoided a delay after a questionable answer on a lone bid contract. (Cornwall Newswatch/Bill Kingston)

MORRISBURG – Construction of a new washroom in Earl Baker Park will be going ahead, despite narrowing avoiding a council-imposed delay.

South Dundas council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to give the contract to the sole bidder – Wells and Son Construction of Morrisburg – for $48,790 plus HST.

Coun. Bill Ewing and Mayor Evonne Delegarde voted down the contract.

It was the only bid received by the municipality despite eight expressions of interest.

But some councillors were concerned because the bidder had put a question mark instead of answering “yes” or “no” whether the July 31 deadline could be met to build the facility.

“I don’t think anybody else is going to come back in (to bid) because nobody else has put in a proposal,” CAO Stephen McDonald told council.

“If we award the tender and tell Mr. Wells that he got it, here’s the contract, you’re subject to a $500 penalty clause per day and he says ‘no’ then we go back to square one and retender,” McDonald said.

“I think we better run with this,” Coun. Archie Mellan added.

Coun. Marc St. Pierre, a waterfront committee member, was hesitant to agree with the contract. “I’d like to ask the question…if you can’t make it (the deadline) why? Is it because of materials that he can’t get it delivered on time? I don’t know,” the councillor said.

CAO McDonald comforted St. Pierre’s concern saying the washroom is design-built with “very general specifications” so the contractor tells the municipality how he’s going to build it.

Mayor Evonne Delegarde was wondering if the short timeline was the reason the municipality only received one bid.